Men looking for truth and inspiration about romance, dating, and marriage should consider examining the treasure trove of stories and testimonials that comprise the canon of classic country music.
Classic country celebrates the rugged individual American setting forth into the unknown vagaries of life. This includes the archetype of the lonesome cowboy journeying into the unforgiving frontier to discover his fortune. The hardscrabble trucker who traverses the sprawling and perilous highways of the nation – chatting up truck stop waitresses in countless towns along the way. The down on his luck gambler who only needs another shot and a change of luck to get back on the winning side of life. But few genres of music are populated with as many convincing and revealing songs about heartbreak and mistreatment by womenkind as classic country.
The songs don’t always have to be serious or downtrodden in spirit. ‘She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)’ by Jerry Reed is a comedic testimonial to the gynocentric bias of the divorce courts.
More than just a litany of complaints, the lyrics rattle off what would be considered chauvinistic observations by today’s standards, in such an offhanded way that every time I hear this song I break out in good natured laughter. For example, take the opening lines, where the singer confesses his true motivation for proposing.
Well, I guess it was back in ’63
When eatin’ my cookin’ got the better of me,
So I asked this little girl I was goin’ with to be my wife.
This line strikes me as funny for both its humble honesty and its old fashioned assumptions. Proposing marriage to a girl you’re dating because you’re tired of preparing your own meals seems like as good a reason as any, I guess. Of course women seldom cook for men on a regular basis now, so that throwback is a nostalgic glance into a traditional way of life.
In my current relationship, I do the majority of the shopping and cooking for my little lady, so I can only shake my head and chuckle. Unfortunately for our protagonist, the next stanza reveals the cautionary morale of the song.
Well, she said she would, so I said “I do”.
But I’da said I wouldn’t if I’da just knew
How sayin’ “I do” was gonna screw up all of my life!
Eventually their love diminishes and Reed inevitably comes home to the locks on the front door having been changed. The chorus of the song expands on the tragicomic nature of the title.
She got the Goldmine, I got the shaft.
They split it down the middle
Then they gave her the better half.
The inequity of divorce settlements has never been summarized more succinctly or hilariously then in these few lines. Reed goes on to lament his post marital lifestlye.
While she’s livin’ like a queen on alimony,
I’m workin’ two shifts eatin’ baloney,
Askin’ myself, “Why didn’t you just learn how to cook?!?!”
This song is an anthem for divorced men sleeping on futons throughout the nation, struggling to make alimony, while their exes enjoy the fruits of the settlement. Incidentally, of the many inequalities feminists rail about I have yet to hear much about leveling the playing field in this regard.
Country has its share of cheating songs. This vast storehouse of testimonials covers the thrill and guilt of behaving badly and the fear of being found out. What is refreshing about this corner of the classic country music catalog is the abundance of songs about men catching their women in the act and the heartbreak and disillusionment that follows. The vulnerability that songs like this entail is generally missing from the contemporary landscape where men often assume the role of boasting of their conquests while women take on the mantle of victimhood and vindictiveness. Consider the lyrics to Carrie Underwood’s more recent hit ‘Before he Cheats’.
Took a Louisville slugger to both head lights
I slashed a hole in all four tires
Maybe next time he’ll think before he cheats
Here the feminine hero is praised for bashing up a car. This act of petty vandalism is supposed to represent the height of feminine empowerment. Of course, she betrays no feelings of guilt or remorse, and there is no consequence for her actions. The guy, after all, deserved it.
Compare this to Porter Wagoner’s chilling confession in ‘The Cold Hard Facts of Life’.
In this dark tale, Porter returns from a business trip a day early to find his wife partying with a bunch of strangers in his home. Porter pulls a knife and dispenses with the strangers. The song ends with him rotting in a jail cell and contemplating an eternity spent burning in hell.
Lord, you should’ve seen their frantic faces
They screamed and cried, please put away that knife
I guess I’ll go to hell or I’ll rot here in this cell
But who taught who the cold hard facts of life
This is a song not about petty revenge but about life and death choices and the heavy consequences that follow. Still, lurking on the edges of this song, as with all classic country is the call for understanding, the possibility of forgiveness, and the faint hope for redemption.
Read More: Top 24 Country Songs From The Genre’s Five Best Singers
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature11128
Never forget this gem: “It’s a shame to whip your wife on Sunday”
Things fall apart.
Clean-cut, moral Americans who were taught to hate Communism, be hard-working, be responsible, respect free speech,
support religious freedom, defend gun rights, oppose warrantless searches, seizures, and torture must be in a state of shock to watch the USA become Socialist.
How could Americans go to the same schools and come out with such different beliefs?
The elites and the media are pushing wars, tyranny, debt, illegal immigrants, offshoring, moral decay, and Socialism.
Americans pretend everything is fine and put their heads in the sand to ignore the obvious decline.
One day Americans may wake up and wonder how bankers can commit fraud and be rewarded with billion dollar bailouts instead of being jailed. Americans may ask why they should obey the law when the government and illegal immigrants don’t. Why can the police kill unarmed Americans, the CIA can torture, officials can lie to Congress, IRS agents can target conservatives, and the EPA can pollute, but Americans can’t?
Angry Americans might start resisting by lying on government forms, getting fake ID’s, failing to pay taxes, not buying insurance, not wearing seatbelts, not registering guns, not getting driver licenses, and smoking in public.
The government will retaliate by increasing punishments with higher fines, longer sentences, and more draconian laws.
Americans might push back with sniper attacks on police checkpoints and terrorism.
As the economy dies due to debt and regulations, the elites will try to pump up the economy by nationalizing companies and outlawing private property and try to distract Americans by launching WWIII with North Korea, Iran, Russia, and China.
Americans will eventually end up in the concentration camps.
How many Americans will wish that they had spoken out against the police state earlier as they get pushed into the ovens?
Americans deserve everything coming to them.
How can Americans look in the mirror today without feeling shame and disgust?
Those who do not learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them.
>country music
niqqa pls
I quit listening to new country right around the millennium. ((((They)))) must have found Nashville, because everything after the 90s isn’t country.
After the 80’s is when EVERYTHING flipped to shit, not just county music. 90’s sucked ass also.
@NATURAL SELECT0R:
exactly, mainstream music died in 90s.
but that’s also when house/techno was born – way better than any mainstream crap. it’s the only real music – and it’s still around.
LOL! techno is shit, in the 90’s rap took over and the Metal that was popular in the 80’s took a back seat to faggot ass Alternative rock.. The 90’s was also when everyone wanted to start acting high society and play dress up. Caring about bling bling and other BS. Thus the birth of ‘GAME’.
House and techno was great
??? When was that.? It was all shit. disco reduxed was all that was. Other than that nothing changed. Porn music turned club music.
“After the 80’s is when EVERYTHING flipped to shit, not just county music. 90’s sucked ass also.” ~ Amen! Preach It Brother Preach It!
Saddle tramp by Marty Robbins
Red pill classic
Alone and Forsaken by Hank Williams.
Refreshing article.
I used to hate this genre of music but today’s crap makes some of this sound like it was classically composed. Old hillbilly music is deserving of a listen or two occasionally just to ground yourself from today’s insanity.
Millennials should hate country music. It’s full of traditional american values like independence, individuality, not trusting big government, the belief in love, serving time and runnin from the law. Very uncool – if that’s even a word anymore in contemporary nomenclature – ideals for the current generation.
Waylon Jennings was the balladeer in The Dukes of Hazzard, not Merle Haggard, but I’m sure those two deceased stars wouldn’t mind the mistake.
Yep…good ol’ George Jones, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams knew a thing or two. In the same vein, the old blues masters also knew a thing or two about women and life.
Put Another Log on the Fire
Funny how just the other day I was punching radio buttons thinking that classic country was some of the greatest beta sniveling ever recorded. Hmmmm. Perspective.
Nearly all country music is Blue Pill phaggot music talking about some long lost Hoe their still in love with. I use to like the beat of Rock N Roll till I actually read the lyrics of most of the songs the same singing about long lost Hoes.
I have about 95% given up on all music apart from some classical I’m into Audio books now and I rarely have the radio on any more in my car.
Modern day music is even worst along with the sissy DJs who wet themselves over the latest girl groups. Music of today I rank along with Hollywood films that’s something to avoid. Don’t forget ((( They))) run everything.
Bob Seger is good for your rock soul
Except for Old Time Rock and Roll. That song is musical cancer.
My favorite Bob Seger songs are Like a Rock and The Fire Inside.
Great article. YKW has done their best to wipe out any masculinity or fighting spirit from country but they haven’t totally succeeded. All of the modern stuff is garbage, you got that right. Jamie Johnson is a rare exception, he’s pretty good. The old masters all have a lot of great songs Hank and Hank Jr, Willie, Waylon, Johnny, Merle, George, Alan Jackson. David Allen Coe. Billy Joe Shaver.
There are two main ways THEY try to subvert country listeners – black pill songs, and lovelorn beta songs. But there are plenty of artists who go sparingly with those and stick mainly to anthems of badassery.
Billy Joe Shaver? The guy who did the theme song for that retarded Cartoon Network show Squidbillies? I’ll pass
Johnny Paycheck tells it like it is:
David Allen Coe is more country than you:
Billy Joe talks about self improvement:
…and going out sarging when you’re not in the mood:
I have fond memories of listening to Johnny Horton with my dad as a kid but I agree with George Carlin who said that Country is the Special Olympics of music.
Listen to Cody Jinks. He is the real deal. Check out I’ve Been Around. Great song about personal struggle.